Yet it has a 5 machine activation limit. So f* epic fail of Steam. :shadedshu

I discovered this DRM when I ran Crysis for the first time, as it reported "activation successful". Also, adding Crysis to the Windows 7 Games Explorer and right clicking the icon gave two menu entries:

- de-authorize game. This is supposed to be done when moving the game from one PC to another
- EU EULA. This described the SolidShield DRM built into it

Steam have broken the UK Sale of Goods Act and the Distance Selling Regulations and the equivalent laws in other countries by leaving out significant info like this. Therefore, I've now raised a support ticket with Steam for a full refund and I'll let you know how I get on. I've also uninstalled the game from my PC. And I liked it, too. Such a shame about this.

Mods: I know there's the main Crysis thread, but I feel that this issue needs greater prominence rather than have it disappear into general Crysis chat, so please don't merge it with the other one. Perhaps it's a good idea to make this a sticky for a little while?

The SolidShield DRM described in the EULA:

3. Technical Protection Measures.
This Software uses Solidshield digital rights management technology. This Solidshield technology does not require a separate installation. For more information about Solidshield, visit http://www.solidshield.com. An Internet connection is required to authenticate the Software and verify your license (“Online Authentication”) using the serial code enclosed with the Software. CRYTEK reserves the right to validate your license through subsequent Online Authentications. If CRYTEK determines your license is not valid, you may not be able to use the Software. CRYTEK does not recommend that you attempt to disable Solidshield. If you disable or otherwise tamper with the technical protection measures, the Software may not function properly and you will have materially breached this License.

Each computer must be authorized before you can play the game. Authorization automatically occurs after authentication and license validation by CRYTEK (i.e., Online Authentication), described above. The first end user of this License may authorize up to five machines on which s/he may play the offline features of this game at any one time. Access to online features and/or services is addressed in Section 1.C, below. When you install the Software on a machine, the machine is automatically authorized (provided you have authorizations available). When you uninstall the Software from a machine, that machine is automatically de-authorized. You may manage your authorizations yourself by following the de-authorization instructions found at http://activate.ea.com/deauthorize. An Internet connection is required for de-authorization. Upon uninstallation of the Software and successful machine deauthorization, the Solidshield technology associated with this Software will be removed from your machine.

Yet it has a 5 machine activation limit. So f* epic fail of Steam. :shadedshu

I discovered this DRM when I ran Crysis for the first time, as it reported "activation successful". Also, adding Crysis to the Windows 7 Games Explorer and right clicking the icon gave two menu entries:

- de-authorize game. This is supposed to be done when moving the game from one PC to another
- EU EULA. This described the SolidShield DRM built into it

Steam have broken the UK Sale of Goods Act and the Distance Selling Regulations and the equivalent laws in other countries by leaving out significant info like this. Therefore, I've now raised a support ticket with Steam for a full refund and I'll let you know how I get on. I've also uninstalled the game from my PC. And I liked it, too. Such a shame about this.

Mods: I know there's the main Crysis thread, but I feel that this issue needs greater prominence rather than have it disappear into general Crysis chat, so please don't merge it with the other one. Perhaps it's a good idea to make this a sticky for a little while?

The SolidShield DRM described in the EULA:

3. Technical Protection Measures.
This Software uses Solidshield digital rights management technology. This Solidshield technology does not require a separate installation. For more information about Solidshield, visit http://www.solidshield.com. An Internet connection is required to authenticate the Software and verify your license (“Online Authentication”) using the serial code enclosed with the Software. CRYTEK reserves the right to validate your license through subsequent Online Authentications. If CRYTEK determines your license is not valid, you may not be able to use the Software. CRYTEK does not recommend that you attempt to disable Solidshield. If you disable or otherwise tamper with the technical protection measures, the Software may not function properly and you will have materially breached this License.

Each computer must be authorized before you can play the game. Authorization automatically occurs after authentication and license validation by CRYTEK (i.e., Online Authentication), described above. The first end user of this License may authorize up to five machines on which s/he may play the offline features of this game at any one time. Access to online features and/or services is addressed in Section 1.C, below. When you install the Software on a machine, the machine is automatically authorized (provided you have authorizations available). When you uninstall the Software from a machine, that machine is automatically de-authorized. You may manage your authorizations yourself by following the de-authorization instructions found at http://activate.ea.com/deauthorize. An Internet connection is required for de-authorization. Upon uninstallation of the Software and successful machine deauthorization, the Solidshield technology associated with this Software will be removed from your machine.

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Up to five activations at one time. Not in total. Seems to be more then fair to me. Also Steam didn't do anything wrong. They are just the platform of delivery. Your beef is with Crytek. I doubt Steam will refund your money.

Up to five activations at one time. Not in total. Seems to be more then fair to me. Also Steam didn't do anything wrong. They are just the platform of delivery. Your beef is with Crytek. I doubt Steam will refund your money.

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No, my beef is with Steam, for missing such a crucial detail, as they're the seller, that is UK law.

Look up another game such as the original Crysis here and you'll see that the 3rd party DRM is disclosed.

It's irrelevant whether you personally think this DRM is fair or not, it should be disclosed so people can make an informed choice. I would have stayed away.

do you know if the retail version has any limitation? I ask because I installed the game on Friday, authorised it yet when I played it again on Saturday the game asked me to authorise again - and again today, so had it 3 days and had to authorise 3 times, Fri Sat and Sun.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY DISPUTE WITH VALVE WITH REGARD TO STEAM OR THE SOFTWARE IS TO DISCONTINUE USE OF STEAM AND CANCEL YOUR ACCOUNT. BECAUSE SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, IN SUCH STATES OR JURISDICTIONS, VALVE, ITS LICENSORS, AND THEIR AFFILIATES LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

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qubit, you must uninstall Steam. The End User Licsense Agreement you ticked the box for says it must be so. They even print in in CAPS to let you know they are yelling it to you.

qubit, you must uninstall Steam. The End User Licsense Agreement you ticked the box for says it must be so. They even print in in CAPS to let you know they are yelling it to you.

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Even if it's something significant that they omitted to do? This little clause gives them carte blanche to do whatever the hell they like, even illegal stuff. And this is against UK law, as well as the DRM omission. As I'm paying in pounds and am based in the UK, I do believe that UK law applies. Again, don't quote me on this!

I'll bet that even though the law is on my said, the buggers will make me fight to get my money back, but we'll just have to wait and see.

EDIT: erocker, scammy: by forcing me to uninstall Steam, I would lose access to hundreds of pounds worth of games I have on the account, that they won't refund. Nah, how can that be right? Sounds like an extortion racket, doesn't it?

qubit, you must uninstall Steam. The End User Licsense Agreement you ticked the box for says it must be so. They even print in in CAPS to let you know they are yelling it to you.

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Actually, this'd be more of a consumer protection issue that could [potentially] void the license if it became litigious (in the USA).

Furthermore with competition on the rise for Steam it would be an incredibly poor decision on their behalf to neglect existing customers (RE: doctrine of keeping a customer). Also I have a hard time seeing how hiding the inclusion of DRM hinders pirates and benefits customers; it appears to be the exact opposite.

Actually, this'd be more of a consumer protection issue that could [potentially] void the license if it became litigious (in the USA).

Furthermore with competition on the rise for Steam it would be an incredibly poor decision on their behalf to neglect existing customers (RE: doctrine of keeping a customer). Also I have a hard time seeing how hiding the inclusion of DRM hinders pirates and benefits customers; it appears to be the exact opposite.

When I was at Microsoft support people sometimes called and complained about stuff thats in the EULA. My constant response was: "Did you read it before agreeing?"

So did you read it before agreeing? You didn't, so you really have yourself to blame and do not deserve a refund.

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Actually, I did, back in 2004

There's such a thing as unfair contract terms, which this appears to be. Also, contract terms cannot breach the law, such as the UK Sale of Goods Act and the Distance Selling Regulations which apply to this sale.